Best free virtual machine software for Windows 10 and 11 in 2022

Windows 11 VM Source: Windows Key

Virtual machines are useful for a whole raft of use cases, both personal and professional, and better nonetheless in that location are good means to build virtual machines without having to pay for any software. While the best enterprise solutions will come with associated license costs, for the domicile user there's absolutely no need to spend a penny but nevertheless have a good virtual machine experience on Windows. The following are what we consider the best free virtual machines.

Best overall: VMware Workstation Player

Vmware Workstation Player Source: Windows Central

You lot've probably heard of VMware and yous probably assume it comes with some fairly hefty price attached. That isn't totally untrue, but it's far from being true. VMware Workstation Role player is a completely free-to-utilise version of its desktop VM software, Workstation Pro. There are differences between the two, and there are some useful features, like snapshots, hidden behind the paid version. But for the most part, information technology's basically the aforementioned.

Perhaps surprisingly, VMware Workstation Actor likewise doesn't command especially high-cease hardware to run. Naturally, the more resources you have, the amend your VMs will run, but even on a lower-spec machine, you're not excluded. You may run into some compatibility problems on some hardware if you're trying to virtualize Windows (nested virtualization), merely information technology's still absolutely possible, aslope whatsoever Linux distribution you lot tin can retrieve of.

Workstation Player also provides additional tools like GPU virtualization, USB pass-through, and the VMware Tools plugins allow you to seamlessly shut downwards and suspend VMs without having to take them open. At its middle, VMware Workstation Actor is actually piece of cake to utilise, with some more avant-garde features if y'all want to dive a bit deeper. Performance is too really skilful, though one of the limitations of the complimentary version is that you tin only have one VM running at a time.

Pros:

Costless for personal use
GPU virtualization
Piece of cake to utilise
Reasonably low hardware requirements

Cons:

Cannot run multiple VMs in the gratis version
Some useful features hidden behind the paywall

Best overall

Vmware Player

VMware Workstation Player

Free and feature-packed

There are some limitations to the free version, but for most people, this is the rex of the free VM software.

Runner-up: Oracle VirtualBox

Virtualbox Source: Windows Central

Oracle'south VirtualBox is open-source and it works on even old versions of Windows should you be clinging to some ancient hardware. Operation-wise in our use, it'south not quite on par with VMware, which is why it takes a runner-up spot, but for many, it will definitely be a better choice.

Nil is hidden behind a paywall and Oracle withal supports VirtualBox even to this day. If you spin up VMs oft, information technology's a solid tool to have in your arsenal, supporting both Windows and Linux VMs (simply Mac users can install a Mac VM in VirtualBox.)

Oracle besides supplies a range of pre-built virtual machines targeted at developers and there's an official plugin pack that adds some useful extras like USB pass-through, RDP, and disk encryption. It'south a shame it looks a little dated, and sometimes it feels like setting upwards a VM takes a few steps also many. But you can't argue with the quality, peculiarly when it will always be completely complimentary.

Pros:

Free and open up-source
Good performance
Supports basically everything
Official extension for USB laissez passer-through and RDP

Cons:

Dated UI
VM setup could exist cleaner

Runner-up

Virtualbox

Oracle VirtualBox

Open-source VMs for all

Open up-source and free of any paywalling but overall performance and user-friendliness merely fall backside VMware. This is still a bully piece of software, though.

Integrated solution: Microsoft Hyper-V

Hyper-V Source: Windows Fundamental

If you're in demand of a uncomplicated solution and you'd rather not tinker with additional software, there is of grade Hyper-V, which is built into Windows 10 and Windows xi. Or it is if yous're using the Pro version or Windows Server. Unfortunately on Windows x Habitation and Windows xi Home you simply cannot use Hyper-V.

That'southward probably the biggest negative, in that it's hidden (sort of) behind a paywall. Simply while Hyper-V is fairly basic, it's user-friendly, and assuming you're not looking for avant-garde features similar GPU acceleration, it's a perfectly good tool to use.

Guest Os support extends to Windows, Windows Server, and Linux, and while you might run into some compatibility issues with some Linux distros, on the whole you can expect to have a skilful experience.

Pros:

Integrated into Windows 10 and 11
Easy to use
Solid support for Linux VMs

Cons:

Requires Pro or Windows Server editions
Bones feature fix

Easy to use

Hyper-V

Microsoft Hyper-V

Basic merely congenital right into Windows

Defective some of the fancy features you'll detect elsewhere but is easy to use and integrated right into your operating system.

Bottom line

For the more than intensive VM user, going with VMware Workstation Player is a smart call. Even though there are some limitations in the free version, none of the core functionality is subconscious behind a paywall, and ultimately, if y'all cease upwardly needing more you have the upgrade choice bachelor.

VirtualBox isn't quite as good on the whole, simply for most people will be merely correct, and Oracle's continued back up, as well as the open-source nature of the product, is admirable. Information technology could certainly use a lick of paint, though.

Hyper-5 is arguably the weakest of the bunch, but information technology's integrated in (some versions of) Windows and for quick, basic VM utilise, it's perfectly fine. Whichever y'all go with, you tin can run culling operating systems with ease, and without cost.

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